Readers' views: Hamas wins Palestinian election

You cannot make statements such as 'One must remember that Palestine is the occupied land which is now called Israel, Israelis are occupiers and should not expect peace' unless you completely discount the facts of history, both ancient and modern. It was the Jewish King David who established Jerusalem as the capital of a united Israel 3000 years ago. The first temple was built by his son Solomon in about 970BC, yet Jerusalem is claimed by the Palestinian Arabs as theirs by right while maintaining that the Jews are usurpers. Some even deny that there was ever a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount and are trying to expunge all evidence. Remember, Islam itself was not founded until the 7th century AD so how can it have a prior claim? Furthermore, Israel is not 'now' called Israel, that is its historical name and the Jewish people were historically known as Israelites. Theirs is an ancient history going back 5000 years. Someone mentioned that Hamas has not been directly involved in terrorist activity for a year now. It would be helpful if people could understand the principle of a 'hudna' (wrongly understood as a complete truce). In Islamic law a hudna is only a temporary and tactical cessation of warfare in order to allow the Muslims to gather strength and regroup. Let us not confuse fact with rhetoric or wishful thinking.
- Steven, NZ

I'm still waiting for Muslims' historical claim to Yerushalayim. Oh that's right you have none. Instead of engaging in intelligent argument you have resorted to the cowards' tactics of name calling. It is very easy to call people racist instead of answering in a proper manner. It is a pathetic attempt to shut down discussion. You are the racist as shown by your refusal to call Israel by its name instead it is the Zionist entity. If you say the land belongs to its inhabitants then Israel with its large Jewish majority belongs to the Jews. And since when isn't religion a large part of a Muslim's thinking? As for it being inhabited by european Jews this is more lies and Islamic propaganda. The Jews of Israel are equally divided between Ashkenazi (european) and Sephardic (mainly from Arab countries). My husband looks more Arab than most Arabs I've seen. His ancestors lived uninterrupted in what is now Iraq for 2500 years. His parents were born in Iraq. They fled for their lives in 1951, forced to leave with absolutely nothing and a passport stamped "Do not return". Israel, upon its creation, on the other hand offered to the local Arab population citizenship and full rights if they chose to stay. Most listened to their leaders who promised them they could return after they had annihilated the Jews.They are the only Iraqi born people in the world that are prohibited from participating in the Iraqi elections. Now that is pure racism. The muslim world has perfected the term. So if one of the main goals of the Pals is right of return does this mean the Jews will get the right of return to the Arab countries and their land, money and businesses? The history for the last 60 years is one of neighbourhood bullies picking fights and then bleating about how unfair it is when they get beaten up instead.
- Mikael Shachaf, NZ

The US sold out the interests of Israel in an attempt to gain favours with the Arab world. Unfortunately it backfired.
- Moore Dave

Husain Al-Badry once again gives a simplistic view of affairs. As mentioned before, how can it be racist if Arabs sit in Israel's parliament? Now, he mentions that the land belongs to the people who lived in it. Okay, so does that mean in his logic, it's fine for the Jews to return to Hebron? Because in 1929 over 70 of them were massacred by the Arabs and driven out. Can I assume he doesn't object to Jews being there now? And another thing, Jews were in Israel long before Islam even existed, so there is an occupation – I agree – it's the illegal occupation of Israel by the Arabs.
- Justin Amler, Australia

World leaders have been shocked by the Hamas victory and allegedly have a dilemma on their hands. On the one hand they have to admit that Hamas was democratically elected. On the other hand, Hamas has a policy, backed up by years of bloody action, to eliminate the state of Israel. So far Blair and Bush representing their respective governments have said that they will do no business with Hamas if the Palestinian terror organisation refuses to renounce violence to obtain their ideals. But the West has little trouble embracing governments who live by violence. For years the US and Britain were supporters of Saddam Hussein, even supplying him with weaponry. The Chinese government has not renounced their use of violence in 1989 in Tiananmen Square when they murdered helpless student protesters. And even this week reports are coming out of China that they intend to crack down hard, a euphemism for state violence, against dissenters within China. The real problem arises because none of these states are legitimate governments. They are illegitimate because they reject the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ; they reject the ethical teaching of Holy Scripture. But the Western governments who unanimously reject Christ's rule themselves are not legitimate governments either. What the West has to do is to deal with Hamas in a way that will be best for the citizens of their respective nations. This is precisely how they deal with China – who along with Japan keep the US economy afloat by buying US debt. Secularists are essentially pragmatists. When all the rhetoric dies down, the political realities "on the ground" will ensure that both Israel and the West find a way to accommodate a Hamas authority. You can be sure that New Zealand will also compromise in good atheistic faction and embrace Hamas as a "partner for peace".
- Garnet Milne, NZ

Mr Shachaf, please avoid attacking the Muslims as this is not an issue of religion, the people of Palestine regardless of religion got occupied by Zionists from Europe and that was the beginning of the Zionist state, where Palestinians were driven out of their lands at any cost and Aab Jews had to work the hardest for the benefit of the zionist rulers. The land belongs to the people who lived in it, not to a religion. The "bring it on" ideology is the racist ideology that I'm talking about, the people of Palestine are occupied, and the racist zionist state is willing to eliminate all threats to its existence at all costs, be it humane or not. That is a racist ideology by all definitions.
- Husain Al-Badry, NZ

Harold Merriman shows a lack of understanding of Israel and the Middle East. Israel has actually pulled out of disputed areas – what have the Palestinians done? Step number 1 on the Road Map to peace calls on the Palestinians to disarm their terrorists. Has that happened? Of course not. It hasn't because they are a fractured group of terrorist entities that have no desire in establishing their own land – rather destroying another. Maybe Harold should read the Hamas charter to see their intentions. The peace process failed, not because of Israel, but because the Arab people refuse to tolerate any non-Muslim peoples in their so called domain. Take for example Saudi Arabia – try to celebrate Christmas there. Harold, can you please list for me one thing the Palestinians have done to adhere to the road map.
- Justin Amler, Australia

Hamas' victory in the Palestinian election is the richly deserved consequence of US arrogance and Israeli intransigence. Sharon's Land for Peace plan has been correctly seen by the Palestinian masses as meaning in reality Crumbs for Abject Surrender. Both Israel and the US have demanded that Palestine disarm its militants, yet neither power has made any meaningful moves to stop Settler-Zionist militants from occupying land that does not belong to them. The current Israeli leader says that large areas of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, will remain in Israeli hands, simply because he hasn't the political will to defy his own "terrorists", the extremists who seem to think that anything an Israeli steals is theirs by right. If Israel wants Hamas to accept a Two-State solution, then Israel must ensure that Palestine can be a viable, prosperous and independant nation. Nothing less than complete withdrawal from the West Bank is required.
- Harold Merriman

The Israeli state wasn't formed on racial ideology – how can it be if over 1 millions Arabs are Israeli citizens? How can it be if Arabs, hostile to Israel, actually sit in the Israeli parliament? If Israel doesn't want peace, how come they are the only country in history who wins a war and gives back land to achieve peace? Remember, the Nazis also came to power in a democratic vote, and look what happened to them!
- Justin Amler, Australia

Hamas runs the social services in Gaza. They've shown a rounded commitment to the people -- not just confrontation with the brutal Israeli occupation.
- Kit

This is straight from the horses mouth. Mahmoud Zahar, a top Hamas official. Asked about the peace process, Zaher said, "There is no peace process. We won't delude the people and say we are waiting and meeting for a process that does not exist." As to Israel being occupiers, Israel has been occupied by foreign invaders for about 2000 years. After being trodden over by the 'nations' for 2 millennia it has finally been returned to its rightful tenants. Can any Muslim please tell me where Yerushalayim is mentioned in the Koran. Muslim history is one of conquering the inhabitants of a land, at the point of a sword, and then proceeding to destroy their Holy sites by building mosques over them. Just as has happened in Israel, Hevron,the Gallilee and many, many other places. Gaza, Judea & Shomron (West Bank) were won from Egypt and Jordan in the 1967 6-day war. An existential defensive war fairly fought and decisively won. If Israel had not pulled back her forces there would be little left of any of the surrounding 4 nations that rose against her. Again in 1973, despite a cowardly attack by the enemy on the High Holy day in Israel's calender, Yom Kippor, Israel could have annihilated her enemies (again) had they not pulled back and decided to try the peace process (again). Now they are preparing for another crack at Israel. I say bring it on! It didn't work in the past and it won't work again. Israel's enemies will only bring destruction upon themselves.
- Mikael Shachaf, NZ

It seems to me that the US and Israel's Middle East policy has served to radicalize the Palestinian population. The USA seeks to stick democracy as a cure-all postage stamp on each country in the Middle East but is not prepared to accept the result when it doesn't go their way (and especially if that is a direct consequence of their policies). The USA and Israel has for far too long ignored international opinion, numerous UN resolutions, and used a well organised military to impose killing and impossible living conditions on the long suffering Palestinians. As an American-born person of Jewish background, I am ashamed that the previously persecuted are now the persecutors. It will be interesting to see whether Israel and USA simply react by increasing their oppression of Palestinians or learn to accept Palestinians' choice of government and work with them to achieve some kind of just, political settlement of their grievances.
- Ron Lopert, NZ

The most beautiful thing about democracy is that in the end, despite a super-power slinging their 'influence' all over the world stage, despite the views of the leaders of affluent Europe, ordinary Palestinians know what is best for them. The USA may have wanted democracy in the Middle East, but you can't change the will of the people!
- Rano Aiga

In response to Mr Shachaf, the Zionist state of Israel was formed based on a racist ideology (zionism) which saw European Jews (not just any jews) as being superior to others. It's not Israel who can't find a peace partner, it's Israel who doesn't want peace and that's transparent through their actions ever since the start of the occupation. One must remember that Palestine is the occupied land which is now called Israel, Israelis are occupiers and should not expect peace unless they realise the existence of a Palestinian state and remove the restrictions and opression on the Palestinian people.
- Husain Al-Badry, NZ

Great Day for Palestinians, and good luck to their new government. If only people could see that with their anti-corruption and charity network the good they do for their people and the power they have over the unassociated militants. If any party could achieve peace it is Hamas. If our politicians and people were continually killed by another country we too would be upset, this is the struggle of the Palestinians. And with Hamas in control they will be able to weed out corruption and bring peace to their country.
- Brad, NZ

No surprises here. We saw this coming a long time ago. These results are proof that the average 'man on the street' Palestinian is still hopeful of pushing Israel into the sea. While man cries peace, peace there will be no peace. It only gets hotter. What is plainly obvious now to most Israelis is they have no peace partner. Hamas, in fact all Palestinian groups, do not recognise Israel. It is referred to as the 'Zionist entity' On NO Palestinan map will one see the State of Israel. Hamas's charter demands the destruction of Israel. Israelis, no matter how much they want peace, will now elect a centre of right government to combat the growing security threat. Israelis are a resilient people and we will not cower to terrorists.
- Mikael Shachaf, NZ

The election was a completely democractic process and Hamas won it by the choice of the Palestinian people, their operations against the Israelis are now to be considered military operations and not terrorist operations. If one is to call them terrorists for fighting the Israelis now then the Israeli army should also be labelled a terrorists organisation. They will introduce a new approach in Palestinian politics, whether that works out for peace or not will be up to different factors, including the behaviour of Israel and Hamas.
- Husain Al-Badry, NZ

At first glance the Hamas victory looks disasterous. This could be the beginning of the world's first democratically elected terrorist government, and is almost certainly a bad sign for Israel. Peace (in whatever form it might come) is a long way off and Hamas will take a long time to build up any useful credibility.
- Joshua Teal

It is no surprise that Hamas has won these elections. In various polls throughout the years, the majority of Palestinians have supported suicide bombing so why wouldn't they support a party that preach it? The only real difference between Fatah and Hamas is that Fatah pretends to be a peacecul party whereas Hamas doesn't. Their end goal is the same: destruction of Israel. How can a country like Israel expect to make peace with a people like that? In the past one could argue that it was the Palestinians' leaders that drove them to destruction. Now that 'democracy' has entered their ranks, they have no one to blame but themselves for their bleak future that lies ahead.
- Justin Amler, Australia